So! This is my very first diner review....Get Excited!! (??)
The reason is that I OWN a diner. I'm the (only) cook at my diner. And I am, shall we say, particular, about how diner food is done at my place. But also? Because I spent A LOT, A LOT of my time working/living/eating in a diner I don't tend to seek a diner out in my "down time."
But I was down in CT visiting my parents and Dad wanted pancakes so we went to The Parthenon Diner.
First Off: I LOVE a Greek Diner. No. Really. I get DOWN with that crazy*** approach to dining: ALL THE THINGS YOU MIGHT EVER CONCEIVABLY WANT ON ONE MENU!!!
Greek Diner is my personal kind of twisted.
Also? The Parthenon Diner is BEAUTIFUL. It is a STUNNINGLY GORGEOUS retro kind of diner inside. With comfy booths and chrome and all the fun stuff. So I give marks for that.
FABULOUS decor.
FABULOUS setting.
Music they're piping in is pure trash.
No. Really. Like wtf.
EVERY server was fantastic! Excellent vibes. Good service.
Which is weird because the guy who I assume is the owner (or one of the owners...) is at the front guarding all the liquor and the espresso machine (???) and EVERYONE has to go to this middle aged dude to pay. Only HE is allowed to cash anyone out.
So let me just take this moment to say: Any restaurant that operates like this?? HOSTILE WORKPLACE.
I don't know who this dude is, but he needs to STEP AWAY. He does NOT belong in the food service industry. And here is why:
he doesn't trust anyone who works for him and treats them like they're all fixing to rob him of something...who knows what....;
(B) he appears to be INCREDIBLY unhappy. Never cracks a smile. It's a bad look/vibe. I would NEVER allow one of my people to act the way this guy does;
(C) he is RUDE. As in he's ringing people out while also one the phone. Because maybe he thinks no one who works for him is capable of answering the phone?? Do NOT be on the phone while you are also supposedly serving me. I would NEVER NEVER NEVER allow anyone who works for me to be on the phone AND waiting on someone.d
Postscript: I would be SHOCKED if the waitstaff here got all their credit card tips. I 110% do not trust that this dude, with his control complex, is gibing everyone all their tips....I WORK IN THIS INDUSTRY. Gross.
So yes, I say ALL that. And I would likely rather give this spot a 3.5. But that's not an option. So I am giving a full 4 stars and also giving you the info you need to understand those 4 stars....
I do need to come back and eat Greek items. I tried as many things as I could and that ended up with me not ordering anything Greek because I wanted Fish Tacos!!
Portions are LARGE! (Which is excellent!!)
Prices are very good/reasonable/cheap.Which always makes me wonder/try to figure out how you can do that.
At The Parthenon they're doing a decent volume AND they serve liquor (which is a MONEY MAKER). But! Prices are reasonable for all the reasons that prices for food are cheap:
The ketchup is pure trash. I'm here to tell you that there is a difference in ketchup and Heinz is the ONLY way to go. PAY FOR THE HEINZ! The fries at The Parthenon are AWESOME. But the ketchup is pure garbage because they're cutting corners...
The silverware.
No. Really. Your forks and spoon and knife?? Cheapest garbage available at the supply store. I know, because I refuse to buy them. I mean. Probably most people aren't as weird as me. But I HATE to eat with cheap as hell forks...
Pancakes: Good size. They're fine. They're just from a boxed mix. Meh.
$2 extra for "real Vermont maple syrup." Fine, it's Connecticut. Charge more for the read deal. But Dad did get so-called "real deal" and I kinda researched. I don't think it's real at all.
Look. I am FROM Vermont. I OWN A VERMONT DINER. I buy gallons and gallons of actual Vermont Maple Syrup from a multi generation farm RIGHT IN MY OWN TOWN. The stuff being served here is NOT legit. Which probably doesn't matter to anyone but me...
Corned Beef Hash: large portion, properly browned. Very bland. Menu claims "house made." As someone who spends DAYS making corned beef hash I do believe they cook up some corned briskets and then mix them with canned hash...very meh...
However! Butternut Squash Hash?? OMG. Life changing. YES!!! I have a full vegan menu at my spot and I IWLL be stealing this idea (and, of course, tweaking it...).
Acceptable Caesar Salad.
REALLY GOOD fish tacos! Totally enjoyed them. And, in all honesty, I only ordered them to prove the point that they were better than the "trendy" (and really NOT GOOD AT ALL) Mexican spot we ate at the night before. Seriously though. That place was trash...
Eat at The Parthenon Diner! TELL The owner/manager dude to GET TF OFF the phone while he is ringing you out!
Tip your server in cash!! (I def don't believe servers are getting all their credit card tips at a joint like this one...!!) read more